Is occlusion becoming more confusing? A plea for simplicity

It is not difficult to observe and record patient occlusal characteristics before starting simple or complex occlusal rehabilitations. If this is done, and if the subsequently placed crowns and fixed prostheses are constructed in observation of similar characteristics, clinical success usually is the result. Deviations from the suggestion to duplicate the "normal" occlusion should be made when the original natural occlusion had caused overt pathosis, or when all teeth or one arch of the teeth is being restored at one time. If this is the case, centric relation occlusion is more reproducible and easier to develop than occlusion with a shift from centric relation to centric occlusion. Peculiar requests of patients relative to occlusal positioning, or routine dependence on various devices to predetermine occlusal characteristics for rehabilitation (as is currently popular in some groups), should be considered, but they should be tempered with careful observation of preoperative occlusal characteristics.